Formula and Process for Crosslinking Antimicrobials to Textiles

Abstract

A process is described herein for applying antimicrobials to substrates such as fabrics. An antimicrobial-binder mixture is provided that includes an antimicrobial and a binder that includes guar gum in an aqueous solution, which is applied to the substrate. Once the substrate is cured, spikes formed by the antimicrobial are disposed on the fabric and function to rupture membranes of infectious agents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of applying an antimicrobial to a fabric comprising
 applying an antimicrobial-binder mixture to the fabric, wherein the binder of the antimicrobial-binder mixture comprises guar gum in an aqueous solution and the antimicrobial of the antimicrobial-binder mixture is characterized as an organo silane quaternary amine capable of forming spiked structures.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binder further comprises ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the binder further comprises urea and methyl acryloid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial-binder mixture comprises at least 2% antimicrobial and at least 2% binder by weight. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after applying the antimicrobial-binder mixture to the fabric, the antimicrobial forms spiked structures on the fabric that function to rupture membranes of infectious agents. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial includes a quaternary amine, a carbon chain, and a silane group, and wherein the carbon chain is bound at one end to the quarternary amine and bound at the other end to the silane group. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial is oriented such that the silane group is proximate to the fabric while the quarternary amine is distal to the fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial forms a spiked structure with the quaternary amine forming the peak of the spike. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial is characterized by the formula NH 3 C 18 H 36 R, where R is a silane group. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the silane group is bound to the binder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the antimicrobial-binder mixture includes:
 adjusting the temperature of the antimicrobial-binder mixture to a temperature of approximately 100° F.-110° F.;   administering the antimicrobial-binder mixture to the fabric; and   curing the antimicrobial-binder mixture while the mixture is on the fabric.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein administering the antimicrobial-binder mixture to the fabric comprises dipping the fabric in or spraying the fabric with the antimicrobial-binder mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including removing existing chemicals from the fabric prior to administering the antimicrobial-binder mixture to the fabric. 
     
     
         14 . A treated fabric for preventing the spread of infectious agents, the fabric comprising (a) a fabric; and (b) an antimicrobial-binder mixture secured to the fabric, the antimicrobial-binder mixture containing a binder comprising guar gum, and an antimicrobial that includes an organo silane quaternary amine having spiked structures. 
     
     
         15 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the binder further comprises ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         16 . The treated fabric of  claim 15 , wherein the binder further comprises urea and methyl acryloid. 
     
     
         17 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial-binder mixture comprises antimicrobial and binder in an approximately 1:1 ratio by weight. 
     
     
         18 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the spiked structures formed by the organo silane quaternary amine are bound to and exposed on an outer surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial includes a quaternary amine, a carbon chain, and a silane group, and wherein the carbon chain is bound at one end to the quarternary amine and bound at the other end to the silane group. 
     
     
         20 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial is oriented such that the silane group is proximate to the fabric while the quarternary amine is distal to the treated fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial forms a spiked structure with the quaternary amine forming the peak of the spike. 
     
     
         22 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial is characterized by the formula NH 3 C 18 H 36 R, where R is a silane group. 
     
     
         23 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the silane group is bound to the binder. 
     
     
         24 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric comprises a woven or non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         25 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric is comprised at least in part by cotton, nylon, polyester, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The treated fabric of  claim 14 , wherein the fabric comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         27 . An aqueous binder solution, the aqueous binder solution comprising guar gum, ammonium slufate, urea, and methyl acryloid. 
     
     
         28 . The aqueous binder solution of  claim 27 , wherein the aqueous binder solution is characterized by comprising approximately 1.5% guar gum by weight, approximately 2% ammonium sulfate by weight, approximately 0.9-1.0% urea by weight, and approximately 1.75% methyl acryloid by weight. 
     
     
         29 . A method of making a binder, the method comprising
 mixing guar gum with water to form a guar gum-water mixture, wherein the water is at a temperature in excess of 145° F.;   cooling the guar gum-water mixture to approximately 135-145° F.;   mixing ammonium sulfate and water to the guar gum-water mixture to form an ammonium sulfate-guar gum-water mixture, wherein the water is at a temperature less than or equal to 145° F.;   mixing urea to the ammonium sulfate-guar gum-water mixture to form a urea-ammonium sulfate-guar gum-water mixture; and   adding water and methyl acryloid to the urea-ammonium sulfate-guar gum-water mixture to form the binder.